List of Resources for Financial Help for Veterinary Bills

Having Trouble Affording Vet Care? Help is out there. No owner wants a pet to suffer because medical care is out of reach. Financial aid is out there, and there are steps you can take to cover an emergency vet bill. 

Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. It could happen to anyone with a pet.

No owner wants a pet to suffer because medical care is out of reach. Financial aid is out there, and there are steps you can take to cover a vet bill.

You've always managed to give your pet the medical care she deserves, but because of unexpected circumstances, you're faced with vet expenses that are far beyond your ability to afford them.

No owner wants a pet to suffer because medical care is out of reach. Financial aid is out there, and there are steps you can take to cover an emergency vet bill.

Please remember that, depending on the severity of your pet's illness or injury, you may still lose your pet even after great expense.

Discuss the prognosis and treatment options with your veterinarian, including whether surgery or treatment would just cause your companion discomfort without preserving a life of good quality.

Work With Veterinarians

Be proactive. Negotiate a payment plan with your vet. If you're a client in good standing, she may be happy to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you don't have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. However, don't expect a vet you've never been to before to agree to such a plan. She doesn't know you and understandably doesn't want to get stuck with an unpaid bill.

• Offer to perform a service for your vet like cleaning kennels, answering phones or other work in lieu of actual cash. 
• Get a second opinion. You'll pay a consultation fee, but another vet may have other, less expensive ways to treat your pet.
• Use a vet in a less expensive area. Vets in smaller towns tend to charge lower fees.
• Check out local veterinary schools. Many run low-cost clinics for limited income clients. The American Veterinary Medical Association's website and VeterinarySchools.com have lists of veterinary schools by state.
• Care Credit No Interest Payment Plan For Veterinary Care
  
  

Below is a comprehensive list of pet financial aid-related organizations

Some are listed nationwide, and some are listed alphabetically by state.

NOTICE: If your animal requires emergency veterinary care and you cannot afford treatment, click here to contact groups or veterinary schools that may help. If you are unsure what qualifies as emergency veterinary care, call your veterinarian and describe the symptoms.

National organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need:

Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines. Therefore you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance:

• The Big Hearts Fund: financial assistance for the diagnosis and treatment of canine and feline heart disease
• Brown Dog Foundation: prescription medications
• Canine Cancer Awareness
• The Dog & Cat Cancer Fund
• God's Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity
• IMOM
• Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Foundation Under the JLACF's bylaws as approved by the IRS, grants can only be provided for pets under the care of a board-certified veterinary oncologist.
• Labrador Life Line is a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Organization created to help owners or rescuers of Labrador Retrievers who are in need of financial assistance.
• Magic Bullet Fund Cancer specific
• The Mosby Fund
• The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
• PAWS is frequently contacted when people are having trouble affording veterinary care or their pet is facing a medical emergency. They may be able to help.
• Paws 4 A Cure The mission of Paws 4 A Cure is to provide financial assistance to qualified families throughout the United States who cannot afford veterinary care for their beloved furry family members without our help. Paws 4 A Cure helps dogs andcats with all injuries and illnesses.
• The Pet Fund  is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. Ask your vet if he would like to precipitate in this program.
• Pets of the Homeless: pet food and veterinary care assistance for homeless pets
• The Riedel & Cody Fund: support for pets suffering with cancer
• RedRover Relief
• Rose's Fund We will financially assist, to the best of our ability, pet owners and Good Samaritans who have an animal with a good prognosis for a healthy life, but are at a financial loss.
• Shakespeare Animal Fund
• Top Dog Foundation "Bentley Grant": for senior dogs (age 10 and over; breed taken into consideration when determining what is "senior")
• Help with vet and pet bills Find resources, many of which are free, to get help with pet bills, including how to get grants and other assistance from the American Animal Hospital Association Helping Pets Fund. As most pet owners will eventually be faced with expensive, unexpected veterinary bills.

Additional Financial Assistance

There are many animal welfare organizations that can help out with vet bills, either with low-cost care, loans, or grants. 

Dog breed-specific veterinary care assistance programs:

• CorgiAid
• Special Needs Dobermans
• Labrador Harbor
• LabMed
• Labrador Lifeline
• WestieMed (West Highland White Terriers)
• Pyramedic Trust (Great Pyrenees)

Veterinary care assistance for working/service dogs:

• Helping Harley Cancer Treatment Grant
• Assistance Dogs Special Allowance Program

Assistance By State

AL | AK | | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | DC | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD |MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC| SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY | Puerto Rico